Chocolate Dates Lactation Bars

When your milk supply is running low, one of the most common ways to supplement is with brewer's yeast. Currently struggling with this myself (my little guy just won't latch, so we are having to pump and bottle feed exclusively...yes sad and frustrating), my friend suggested making lactation bars.  This is similar to her recipe, but I've made a few variations and am pretty pleased with this last batch!  Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor, but I did see an increase in my supply by adding these to my diet.  You can play around with the ingredients and measurements to make your own perfect batch.  I've had to add more coconut oil at times, as well as chocolate chips (oil so my processor would keep running smoothly and the chocolate to get rid of the bitter beer after taste).  Let me know what you think tastes best!


Ingredients:
1 lb of dates
1/2-3/4 cup of coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup (or less) cup flax seed
1/4 cup steel cut oats (or rolled oats, NOT instant)
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 cup unsalted almonds
2 cups chocolate chips
2-5 cups of brewers yeast (depending on how bitter you'd like it)

Directions:
In a food processor, add dates and coconut oil.  Chop/puree until somewhat smooth.  Slowly (one by one), add remaining ingredients until smooth.  On a cookie sheet, line with wax or parchment paper.  Spread the mixture evenly, coating the entire pan.  Stick in the fridge until solid.

You can top with coconut flakes or with nothing. Hope this helps :)

Easy Salsa Recipe!

Very similar to pico de gallo, my salsa recipe has been perfected.  I do however add/subtract some of the ingredients at times.  For example: the pic below I didn't add any whole cilantro leaves, but tossed them all in my food processor.  I also added more cumin.  Play around with it and let me know what YOU did to make it your own!!

Ingredients:

1 red bell pepper
3-6 large garlic cloves
8 tomatoes
1 cup cilantro
1 large white onion
Salt to taste
Dash of cumin
Dash of cayenne
Dash of black pepper
1/2 lime

Put 1/2 of chopped onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, garlic cloves and 1/2 cup cilantro in a food processor. "Chop" it for about 20-30 seconds.  You want it to still be chunky, but to the point where it's "chip scoopable".  Start chopping the other half of the onion and bell pepper.  After, chop the tomatoes but remove the guts with the seeds. Combine in a bowl and squeeze the juice of the lime. Mix in the spices. With the 1/2 cup cilantro remaining, tear the leaves off so they're whole.  Add to the salsa and enjoy!

My Guac Recipe

Hi There!

Here is my Guacamole recipe that I tried to take from about 10 different recipes to make my own, because all of those were just too blah.  So I wanted to be absolutely SURE that mine had some flavor so it wouldn't be a bust.

My Guac Recipe:

2 Avocados
1 Tomato (I used the seeds, but you can take them out)
1/2 Onion
1-2 Tablespoons of cilantro (I ripped off about 1/2 a handful, then added a little at a time then chopped)
1/2 Lime
2 cloves garlic
1 Tablespoon salt
Dash of cumin
Dash and a half of Cayenne

Cut the avocados in 1/2 and scoop their guts into a bowl.  Use a potato masher to get that creamy yet chunky look.

Set that aside.

Cut the tomato, onion, garlic and cilantro then put into a food processor.  Grind for only about 5-10 seconds so it's still a bit chunky.

Add to the avocado bowl

Juice 1/2 the lime

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

Stir Fry w/ Amino Acids

AA/SS Stir-Fry Combo!

If you haven't started cooking the rice, do it because that sucker takes about 30-45 minutes in a rice cooker.

Ingredients:

-3 Tbls Amino Acids (tastes like soy sauce, without the sodium)

Optional: 1 tbls soy sauce

-3-5 Garlic Cloves (use a garlic press or chop very fine)

-1 Yellow pepper

-1 Red Pepper

-1/2 Yellow onion

-1 head of broccoli

-1 Tbls natural peanut butter (no sugar or salt added)

-1 Tbls Brown sugar 

-2 Cups Brown rice cooked

-2  Chicken breasts (cut into cubes, or if you prefer slices)

-Optional: 1teaspoon Garlic Powder 

-Heat some coconut oil spray in a saute pan (med-high heat)

-Add the chicken breast pieces (and garlic powder if using that option as well) and cook for about 15 minutes or until they're no longer pink in the middle

-Add veggies until cooked

-Add the garlic, cook for about 1 min

-Add the Peanut Butter & Brown Sugar, stir well for about 10 seconds (PB will stick so doesn't really matter it'll get mixed in sooner or later)

-Add the rice

-Mix together then start adding the amino acids and soy sauce until rice and veggies are coated

I cooked mine for about 7 minutes while stirring every once in awhile so nothing could even think about burning...

Another option:

If you'd like to, you can (on low heat so like 2) heat the garlic cloves, brown sugar, peanut butter, amino acids and soy sauce in a separate sauce pan.  Just remember to stir continuously until you're ready to add it to your saute pan.  This works great if you're not in a hurry!!  If you'd like more sauce, just add as much as you'd like then taste as you go.

Roasted Cauliflower (& Broccoli) Recipe!

Found this one on Pinterest, posted by Lisa on:

http://www.garnishwithlemon.com/2013/02/19/parmesan-roasted-cauliflower/

I use this at least 3 times a week, and love it!  Thanks Lisa!

....I wrote little notes in Italics for what worked for me....

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

55 mins

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower with thyme, caramelized onion and garlic.

Author: barely adapted from Bon Appetit (& now Garnish with Lemon (posted by Lisa))

Recipe type: Sides and salads

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower- cut into thick sections (I used a purple cauliflower)
• (me) added 1 head of broccoli also cut into thick sections
• 1 Vidalia onion- sliced (me-we took this out)
• 6 Thyme Sprigs (didn't have this, so I added about 1 Tbls of the seasoning)
• 4-6 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
• 3-4 T Olive Oil
• ½ t salt
• ½ freshly ground pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Clean cauliflower and cut in sections. In a large bowl, toss sliced onion, thyme, sprigs, and garlic with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss again. Spread cauliflower mixture on a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Turn the cauliflower over to brown other side and add the Parmesan cheese. Roast for another 10- 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Fast Chili!

Having little time to spend on preparing meals, this is a fast simple chili that my mom had made us while we were growing up.  Now I am able to use it when I need to whip something out quick!

Ingredients:
-Package of ground turkey
-1/2-whole onion chopped fine
-2 cans of tomato sauce (BPA free cans/low sodium)
-2 cans of black beans
-2 cans of pinto beans
Optional: 1 can kidney beans

Homemade chili seasoning (basically add seasonings to your preference):
-Chili powder (2-5 tablespoons, to taste)
-1-2 tsp cumin
-1-3 tsp garlic powder
-1 tbls salt
-1 tbls pepper




Directions:
Brown the turkey in the same cookware you are making the chili in.
Add the onions until they sweat
On medium heat, add the wet ingredients, then the seasonings.
Cook on medium heat for 30 min, stirring every few minutes
Cook on low and cover for 30 more (or serve after initial 30...)

Super easy right?